Wednesday, September 25, 2013

4 Questions with BMW Motorrad USA test rider Nate Kern

Nate Kern and SimplePart CEO Cole Getzler

He’s raced motorbikes all over the world, set countless
track records on the pro circuit, and yesterday Nate Kern stopped by the
SimplePart office in Decatur.

The 2008 Pro Thunderbike champion dropped in to say hello, and
we couldn't resist the chance to sit down and ask him a few questions about his
roots, racing and his strong partnership with BMW Motorrad USA.

It’s as simple as “keeping it fun” Nate says.

Favorite track you've ridden on?

“It would probably have to be Valencia, it’s a mix of
everything. Really a rider's track, it allows (the rider) to show how good he is
versus just the bike. You know it has a really technical section that you have
to connect the dots. I mean every track you have to connect the dots, but on a
scale of 1-10 some tracks just aren't as technical as others.”

Current favorite bike?

“My current favorite, hands down the S 1000. I’m not being
too biased, you can call it brand X. If brand X has the same safety aspects and
electronic parameters of what it takes to keep a beginner, average, decent,
great it doesn't matter. We shaped the RR into a machine for the masses versus
just a skilled rider, and that’s why I like it because some days I just want to
relax and I don’t want to be on edge regardless of the elements or regardless
of how I feel. I can turn on the electronics or turn them down based on how I
feel.”

“Keeping it fun, it’s that simple. I never anticipated an
end to racing, you know that first year I wasn't racing it was a tough transition. Now I realize that there’s so much more... I bleed blue and white, I love the BMW brand.”

What issues do you
have, if any, getting new parts for your bikes?

“Well it’s interesting because I’m not going through as many
consumables right now being off the race track. I’m on the track just as much
if not more now just doing PR and testing. Wherever I’m at, the point is you’re going
to go through parts. Thanks goodness I don’t go through a lot due to not
crashing. There are a lot of new parts that BMW is coming up with. Their getting
into a whole new demographic of riders here which is sport bikes. There are
dealers out there that don’t even know new parts for these sport bikes exist.
There’s kind of a disconnect, it’s not anything bad, but the fact is I talk to
local dealers here I see the part exists and they say “we didn't know that.” So
it’s not that simple for me as a consumer, I think there’s a major need to
simplify getting what you want when you want it.”

Nate made it a point to end the Q and A with this statement:
“Let the record show, I never had a Mohawk. Even when I could grow hair!”